BAIC’s Malaysian entry has got to be one of the longest gestation periods ever in the nation’s automotive history. Can you believe the Beijing-based state-owned carmaker took a chance here as early as 2015? At that time it wanted to make Malaysia an ASEAN EV hub, and in late-2016, showed the EV200 EV sedan and D20 petrol hatch – both looking a lot like the original Mercedes-Benz B-Class.
Nothing then really happened until mid-2023, when BAIC and EP Manufacturing (EPMB) signed an MoU for X55 and BJ40 Plus local assembly (CKD). In May 2024, both SUVs were previewed in right-hand drive form (we even got them both for a few days) and were supposed to be launched later that year, but 2024 became 2025 and 2025 became 2026.
Three months ago, BAIC sub-brand Arcfox listed Malaysia on its website and activated its Malaysian Facebook, Instagram and Threads pages, and it transpired that GoAuto Group’s Intro Synergy (yup, of Neta Malaysia fame) would be the distributor.
The company has now confirmed to paultan.org BM that its Malaysian plans are alive and well – final brand launch preparations are being done, backed by a more structured and clear plan. The Arcfox T1 and BAIC BJ30 will launch first as CKD models from the start, as soon as year-end and in the first quarter of next year respectively.
Recently launched in Indonesia as a BAIC for Rp 393 million (RM90k), the T1 is 4,337 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, 1,572 mm tall and has a 2,770 mm wheelbase. In Indonesia, the smart #1-sized EV has a 95 PS/176 Nm front motor, a 42.3-kWh LFP battery, a 310-km WLTP range, a 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time and a circa-150 km/h top speed. Max charging rates are not divulged, but 30-80% DC charging takes around 25 minutes and 0-100% AC charging takes eight hours.
Meanwhile, the BJ30 has already been on sale for over a year in Indonesia, where’s it’s available only as a hybrid for Rp 529-589 million (RM122k-135k). There exists a pure petrol version, but we understand that Malaysia is expected to get the hybrid first.
Length, width, height, wheelbase and ground clearance are respectively 4,730, 1,910, 1,790, 2,820 and 215 mm. In Indonesia, the BJ30 Hybrid’s 158 PS/235 Nm 1.5 litre turbo engine is married to either one 177 PS/315 Nm motor on the FWD or that plus a 75 PS/135 Nm rear motor on the AWD, through a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. Combined outputs are 334 PS/550 Nm and 409 PS/685 Nm respectively.
We understand that for Malaysia, the Arcfox badge is set to adorn EV SUVs and crossovers, while the BAIC badge will be reserved for boxy off-roaders. What are your thoughts? Will the BAIC who cried wolf finally pull through?
Indonesian-market Arcfox T1, sold there as a BAIC
Indonesian-market BAIC BJ30 Hybrid
The first round of BAIC punya relaunch with the showroom near Salak Selatan and the big fancy showroom near Jalan 225 PJ apa sudah jadi? Less than a year tutup kedai. Scam companies??
Hopefully GoAuto has better luck than the earlier incompetent local distributors.
late to the party, how to compete when your cars look so generic.
The front of the Arcfox T1 looks like the BYD and the steering wheel’s brand logo makes me think of Deepal.
That BJ30 looks like all the other China offerings here so how exactly are they planning to differentiate themselves? Looks like the local agent has their work cut out for them.